Not a virtuous hobby? Guilt?

My feeling guilty days are over, as someone else said we are old enough to do what we want with our time.It seems to work for us too.

I am really annoyed when I look through the window and see DH sat all day looking at music for his guitar on the computer

That's what I mean LuckyFour. I don't sleep much (don't seem to need it fortunately) and do what has to be done around the house. I am lucky because OH does his fair share too. He sleeps like a log so has much more energy than I do.

I think the guilt comes from ploughing my own furrow for so long. I was a single working mother for much of my life and if I didn't do it, things (including decorating, gardening, washing the car etc) didn't get done. Now life is easier, I seem to be slacking off, but isn't that what retirement is all about?

OH had to go to the bank earlier. I had made us lunch then I sat down to peruse my favourite sites and catch up with the news online. OH blew me a kiss goodbye on his way out. I DID brazen it out and was still in my armchair on my laptop when he came back.

If this had been years ago, when I was married, if I'd been reading a book when husband came home I'd have got up (with my pinny on) and sprayed some polish around and gone into the kitchen so I was on my feet. Completely daft guilt.

We are travelling up the motorway later on today to babysit DGS until about midnight, so I am conserving my energy. Not that I need excuses....

I do all the housework, cooking, washing etc and all the gardening. I am really annoyed when I look through the window and see DH sat all day looking at music for his guitar on the computer. He says he loves the garden but only mows one lawn once a fortnight or so with an electric mower while I do everything else.

Mine not mind

I am online now previously read the paper whilst I ate my lunch. Morning spent volunteering and doing errands in town before I drove home. I live on my own so no need to feel guilty. I still work part time so feel the rest of my time is mind to do as I please. And all the family are coming for tea tonight so won’t be idle later

Mr P is of the mind that sleeping late in the morning or sitting about reading in the afternoon is wasting the day so he potters about in the house or the garden weather permitting. He likes routine. He's happy.
I am of the persuasion that rest and relaxation is good for mental health. I am happy......but have to admit to feeling a little guilty when caught watching Escape to the Country in the afternoon, no idea why. I do my fair share but not to a routine We've rubbed along happily for 49 years so, as previously stated, opposites must attract.

i am semi-retired and OH is self employed very full time - I am trying hard to learn not to feel guilty enjoying myself rather than helping him.
We must 'try harder'!

My husband had no concerns about feeling guilty, as he sits and watches tv, while I am painting the ceiling!!!

I feel no obligation to do housework or cook to please anyone else! I clean when it annoys me that things look a bit very much in need of cleaning. I cook because I like to. If I do not feel like it I fish something out of the freezer of pay for a take away!

Did my weeding , read the forum , drank coffee , put on the breadmaker ................ now off to do an online jigsaw Thanks everyone

I taught full time for 34 years and brought up two children almost single handed due to the DH being out from 7a.m. to 7p.m. and then wanting my attention and a meal when he returned.

Since retiring (at 55) I have looked after a largish house and garden: cleaned, gardened, maintained, decorated, cooked and ironed. I support the rest of the family and do much running around on their behalf from shopping, collecting ordered items and following up requests to house hunting and viewing.

I am incredibly busy in the mornings and, when I knock off the domestic servitude, I consider my time my own. I walk, read, bake and potter and often I fit in a cheeky nap. I do not feel in the slightest bit guilty.

I don't get guilt from my time reading because of DH doing outside things. But I punish myself for it because I know I should be 'moving around'. There is guilt everywhere in my life/mind.

When I first retired and DH was still working, I used to leave a duster and a tin of polish lying around for when he came home to imply I had been working. Not that he cares, he doesn't!

Usual day for me ( I am on my own) up washed and dressed by 9 am, feed and walk the dog, went to the beach today, came back ate breakfast, I have gingerbread on other oven baking now and all before 11 am . I have no plans for most of the rest of the day so I'll do what I want. My mother couldn't see anyone doing nothing. I don't feel obliged to follow her example. It's great being retired and getting to do what you like. I have a clear conscience.

I think after working all our lives, we deserve to rest and chill whenever we want. Your OH loves to garden, you love to keep in touch with friends which is very important too. Don't feel guilty. It's your retirement too.

Opposite way round in our house, I'm busy most of the time and DH sits at laptop or watches the TV - the last thing he feels is guilty!

My husband and I are both retired although he has a part time job at Asda four mornings a week working 6am until 10 am. Some days he likes to walk to work and others he likes to drive. I have this complex. I don't know why, on the days he walks to work I must pick him up especially if it's raining or bad weather. He frequently tells me I should just have stayed in bed but do feel 'guilty' for lounging about too much. Like other posters have said we deserve our retirement and should do whatever pleases us. I am also guilty of volunteering twice a week, doing grandparent duties and keeping pretty busy. At times it's exhausting.

Husband gets a spurt of activity on and potters doing his thing.
Most afternoons I can be found upstairs reading a book .
In the evenings he is upstairs watching tv and i fluff around doing my bits vacuuming and suchlike.
It works for us. Some days I am flat out doing things other days...books are way too important

Having just come back from holiday on Monday the last few days have been really busy washing, shopping and now loads of ironing to do. DS stayed in the house for a week to look after the dog but obviously didn’t think I might like to home to a clean bathroom. Was in the middle of doing that when DH came in having mowed the grass and tidied up the garden. He proceeded to run a bath saying he was shattered while I carried on cleaning around him! After that I had a cup of tea, feet up and my book - I’m reading Michelle Obama too and loving it. No guilt feelings in this house!

I like to keep busy in the morning, just about to start my ironing. Tidy up etc. Then from lunchtime onwards it’s my book I am reading at at moment Becoming by Michelle Obama. Or iPad and catching up with emails. Radio in the kitchens always on. I never feel guilty about me time, I do most-of. the the housework anyway.

No guilt in this house. I have been known to be stretched out on the sofa reading while my husband was stood nearby doing the ironing. At the moment I am on my laptop and he is out at pilates. We both do what we want and when we want depending on how we feel.

Yesterday and for all the beautiful sunny days we have had I have just sat on my lovely sunny little patio and read a book. I have no husband now, but when I had one I did a lot more work than I do now. My neighbour is 82 now, that is 4 years older than I am. On sunny days she spends many hours in her prize winning garden, clipping bushes into pretty shapes, cutting her grass with scissors, moving things, climbing into trees and cutting branches etc. That is her hobby, She is very active and strong and I am not. She also does all the housework and cooking and painting in her house, as her husband does sweet fannyadams. I read in the sunshine while she works her guts out. Good for her. I do not feel guilty in the least.

we are human BEINGS
Not human DOINGS
I am sure a lot of the time you are and have been very busy at times when he wasn't.
Don't let his disapproval make you feel guilty, you are not his employee...

I used to beaver all day like a crazy woman so that everything was ‘done’ when my husband got in from work. Not that he minded - he is very easy going. He still works full time but now I ‘save’ jobs up to be doing for when he gets home to stop feeling guilty about not working - silly isn’t it!!

I work very hard at being retired.
It’s quite difficult when you have a guilty conscience.